Tamalada ~ Con Mucho Amor
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on Dec 13, 2011, Updated Mar 02, 2025
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We were in El Paso a couple of months ago testing IMUSA tamale steamers and decided it was the perfect opportunity to host a tamalada (a tamal-making party) with our mother, tias, and a couple of cousins. Thankfully our cousin Ericka graciously opened her home and cocina for all of us, and our other cousin Leah documented it all with her amazing photography skills. You can check out her photography blog here.
After a very hectic schedule of testing several tamale steamers, where we made and steamed literally hundreds of tamales we were crazy enough to think we could host a tamalada. We figured why not, we’re already in the groove. We had one day left in our busy schedule to squeeze in one more event so we coordinated a tamalada with those who are the closest we have to grandma, her daughters (our tias), and our mother.
If you’ve ever taken part in a tamalada you understand the energy surrounding it. It must be the fumes in the masa or something about making hundreds of little gifts in an oja (corn husk) because once we all sat around and started wrapping and making the tamales the best stories from the past resurfaced. A tamalda leads to all sorts of chit chat and remembrances of some of our familias history, which normally doesn’t happen at any other time. That day we all talked, we laughed, we cried, and then we talked some more. Wrapping tamales with our mother, cousins, and tias was immeasurable. We are eternally grateful to have spent that beautiful October morning with mom, Ericka, Leah, Tia Natalia, and Tia Ernestina. Gracias y un gran besote for taking the time to spend it with us making tamales. We wouldn’t trade that day for anything in the world.
That day really solidified the importance of documenting our family’s recipes. Our mother is the youngest of all her siblings, and was always with grandma in the kitchen. Thankfully for us she memorized all of our grandma’s recipes including her legendary tamales. We were surprised to hear that our tias had not made tamales in years, so mom teaching all of us grandmas tricks and techniques was priceless. Traditionally our grandma made red chile and pork tamales and sweet raisin tamales for the kids. Through the years our mom has made additional fillings including green chile and pork and a new favorite, rajas con queso. Grandma’s old tried and true tamale recipes and mom’s new recipes are truly invaluable. I hope one day we too can add to their list of tamale filling recipes.
As we wrapped each tamal we talked about our late grandma and all the special family gatherings we used to have when we were little kids. It was a walk down memory lane but most of all it was a day filled con mucho amor.
We encourage you to host a tamalada, a cookie party, or something in the kitchen. These moments are truly precious and more often than not, only come but once a year.
Many of you have asked us for our tamale recipe, and we hope you understand how dear it is to us. We are saving our tamal masa recipe and the variety of filling options for our cookbook and hope that you are excited to see them in print as much as we are.
Photography by Leah Audrae
‘el pendejo’ That was awesome and made me totally think of my childhood! Thank you!!!
Twas the night before Christmas, when on the comales
Not a pot was boiling, except for tamales.
The pork bien picada, the masa helada,
All in ready for the day`s Tamalada.
The pots were washed, all shiny and shimmering,
Las ojas were soaking, waiting for simmering.
Abuelo on the sofa, the TV screaming,
Abuelita on the bed, of lotto dreaming.
When out in the street, pitos were honking,
Abuelo yelled, “Wake up, Nietos coming”.
The family arrived, dressed in delantales,
Breanna in her wool, Xmas guantes.
Andale Estella, Eva, mas pronto Juan!
Muevele Christina, Miguel Y no tardes Don.
Familia presente, at Inez`s kitchen table,
Except for Cesar, lacking jumper cables.
No frijoles ni queso, for filling instead,
Only the best, of the cerdo`s head.
No time to tear, a strip for a belt,
The fold will hold itself or be dealt.
To the elbows in masa, nails stained with red chili.
Hands sticky with mole, we near dozen fifty.
Tamales as gifts the relatives all want,
For neighbors , el Hefe and my favorite aunt.
With palita we spread, the masa so thin,
Thick as a log, is a mortal sin.
With gossip and chisme we forge on ahead,
Nearing the clean-up we all dearly dread.
A la olla they go con mucho cuidado
Standing tall, como un soldado.
Tamales a cooking, a la puerta we run
Now it’s time for Posadas Fun !
Después La Posada, Tamales we enjoy,
Makes it worth, the trabajo hoy.
All eaten before the Candelaria,
None left, in the olla Tamalera.
The dozens divided, carried by armload,
The finished relief, made all smiles glow.
Exhausted craving, for menudo or fajitas,
We left Abuelita , with an icy margarita.
Hurry home not to miss, La Misa de Gallo,
As we try to keep tomorrow`s day hallow.
A final shout, saludos finales,
Feliz Navida ! y Viva tamales !
Wow! I love it. Thank you for sharing!
They’re very labor intensive, however not difficult to make. But time is needed to keep your sanity. In most cases you can host a “tamalada” party and invite some friends to help you out in the process, the rewards? Taking tamales home and having a great memory.
The best part is assembling them on that day with everyone there. Lots of great conversation takes place and then our reward is eating these nuggets of goodness later that day. Thanks for stopping by to visit our site.
The pictures are exquisite and capture the warmth and love that flowed at the tamalada between the generations of women. I can’t wait until the cookbook comes out because your family’s history will be preserved for future generations and shared with us!
Thank you Viviana…we are furiously working toward to that end…the cookbook is still on target for its release in October 2012…we did have such a beautiful time that day…I love that we captured it with our mom and some of her sisters.
I must say your tamalada looks as fun as ours-we were just missing you! I don’t see any mimosa’s however-need to add that to the recipe. 🙂
Karen, loved your tamalada pictures my friend…looks like the Muy Bueno tamalada continues with my friends in California. Thanks for keeping our family yearly tradition alive and sharing it with others. I love your addition of mimosas. Will make that addition next year…besos amiga querida!
That looks like my idea of a party! How fun!
Yup, fun was had by all…
I would dearly love to learn to make tamales. Great photos, everyone is so happy it makes me smile. So good to see you last Saturday Yvette.
Lea Ann, Yvette will have to have a tamalada with you in Colorado, sometime. I’m sure you will all have a fabulous time.
Loved this post and love the photos! Very well done and so intimate.
We had as much fun making the tamales as we did taking photos show casing our hard work, glad it shows.